Online Booking has begun!

In the absence of our poorly Web Man, to whom we wish a speedy recovery and return from hospital, I've been trying to make it easier for guests to book with us. I'm planning to introduce online booking across our own website and all directories we advertise with when I can, but in the meantime I've made a start with the Holiday Lettings site. Guests can now book online via our listing on their site:

http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/rentals/honiton/271054

We'll keep you all posted when the tweaks to this website are made, but in the meantime please keep an eye on this blog and our Facebook page for up to date news.

Here's a snowy photo taken yesterday for a bit of seasonal cheer! After a wonderful week's sledging, the (disgruntled) girls have been deposited at school via Land Rover and I'm back at the desk. Bookings are rolling in for Spring and Summer - even Christmas! - it won't be long before I'm posting photos of primroses and bluebells again, but in the meantime keep warm and check back here regularly for more Luggs news.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all our guests past, present and future! 2013 has kicked off with our usual flurry of bookings for spring and summer - we've also taken a booking for next Christmas already, although New Year is still available.

We're having trouble getting the updated prices onto the website, although I think they're correct on all the directories we advertise with now. For reference, here they are. Hopefully won't be long until our Prices page is correct as well.


Low season

November – Spring (pre Easter holidays)
October – November (except school holidays)

3 nights 650
7 nights 850
Bank Holiday Weekends 850

Mid season 
After Easter holidays –Whitsun Half Term/Mid-late Sept 
3 nights 750
7 nights 1050

High season
June/Early-mid September
7 nights 1350

Peak season
July and August
7 nights  1550

Feb Half Term 1150

Easter 2013 1350
Whitsun Half Term 1350
Autumn Half Term 1350

Christmas/New Year
(5-7 nights depending on dates) 1550


Weekly bookings run from Friday to Friday (7 nights). Short breaks are also available in low/mid season in the form of weekend (Friday to Monday – 3 nights) or mid-week (Monday to Friday – 4 nights) breaks.
All prices include power and heat, linen, towels, logs and a welcome pack. Well behaved dogs are welcome (max 2 depending on size/breed) at £25 per booking each.

The owners reserve the right to change these prices at any time.

We have about half the summer holidays still available at the time of writing, and one week left of the Easter holidays. Only Autumn half term is free now. If you're thinking of a Devon holiday this year, now's the time to secure your preferred dates. Just call or email for up to date availability as it can change frequently at the moment. 

We're also thinking up a suitably enticing prize for a New Year competition - keep an eye on this blog as well as our Facebook page (Luggs Barn, Devon) and we'll post an update very soon. 

Autumn deals on Devon breaks!

Well, the children are back at school - our youngest, Willow, is settling in beautifully which is a relief as she only turned 4 in August. Here's a photo of her in her new uniform looking extremely proud of herself!

The leaves are turning now and the Blackdown Hills scenery is as stunning as ever. This is my favourite time of year - our wedding anniversary is coming up shortly - and I've met so many other people with Autumn anniversaries. If yours is coming up, why not take advantage of the deals available at this time of year and come and stay at Luggs Barn? A break here could be the perfect surprise present for the spouse who thinks you've forgotten...

The Autumn colours are just beginning to glow

After an amazing Spring/Summer season, we now have some availability through autumn and winter, including half term at the time of writing. This year, Hallowe'en falls within half term - the perfect opportunity for a spooky house party in the middle of nowhere?! Take a look at our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/pages/Luggs-Barn-Devon/143513745697324 to keep an eye on the latest deals, but here are a couple to tempt anyone looking for a cosy autumn break:

2-9 November, £750 (was £850)
9-12 November, £600 (was £650)

Don't forget Luggs Barn sleeps 8 in comfort in 4 beautiful bedrooms, including two zip/link rooms offering the option of twin beds ideal for friends or siblings. There's also a single folding bed and plenty of room for cots of ready beds. At full occupancy, a break at Luggs Barn is typically cheaper than a motel, and infinitely more stylish!

Hallowe'en is always eagerly awaited!

Make the most of the scenic footpaths and spectacular views surrounding Luggs Barn by taking a break in the affordable Autumn. Before Christmas stress starts to bite, gather family and friends in a stylish and spacious retreat from daily life. A long walk followed by a cosy evening in the vaulted, beamed living room curled up in front of the wood burner is an antidote to almost any kind of stress!

Further ahead, Christmas and New Year have been booked up for some months now, and 2013 bookings are already beginning to come in. Now's the time to ensure that your preferred dates are available; many peak weeks are booked up to 9 months in advance each year!

Finally, we're looking forward to the Honiton Antiques Festival,12-17 November, which culminates with a Restoration and Conservation Fair at which Bill will be exhibiting. His piano restoration work (see www.wypianos.co.uk for his new website!) is highly sought after by retailers and private clients all over the country, and on 17th November he will be joined by numerous experts in varying trades, from clock restoration to french polishing. If you're visiting the West Country in November, especially if you'll be on the lookout for antiques, Honiton is the best place for a day out! Come and see us - take a look at www.restorationandconservation.co.uk for more details.

Summer time...

...and we have a fox to outwit.

We've had a spate of losses lately and after a good run for a few years are now convinced we need to fence the hens and ducks in. We're still concerned that being in an enclosure might make them more vulnerable as they can't get away if he does get in, but we're giving it a try.

We sadly lost a chick last weekend - it didn't wake up one morning, despite having been pecking happily around the previous day - but the other 4 are doing well. They regularly frighten us by disappearing into the undergrowth and squeezing through fences into the fox's territory, but so far always make it back of the safety of Mum. They're growing feathers and already look slightly gangly, we think 3 are cockerels and one is a hen, so fingers crossed she makes it through the hurdles of the next few months.

Finally, after a long wait in the cold and wet, our vegetable garden is looking superb. There are lots of weeds, as there are never enough hours in the day, but loads of wonderful veg too - we've seen a courgette, the potatoes are struggling but tasty when we find them, the broad and runner beans are well on their way, lettuces have been providing salads most evenings for several weeks, and tonight we picked our first ever peas and tasted a few straight from the pod. They were just as delicious as we'd hoped and will probably never make it to the cooker, I think fresh in salads will be the best way to enjoy them.

Autumn bookings are starting to come in now - once the children are off school and the pace of life slows slightly, why not plan ahead for an autumn break? Contact us for availability and prices and make the most of what's promised to be an Indian summer this year...

New arrivals at Luggs!

We have 5 new chicks! Can't tell just yet how many are cockerels...but for now they're gorgeous and fluffy and doing well.

Bill had to help the youngest one out of its shell as Mum had lost interest and was busy with the others. He kept it warm in his hands all evening until it started cheeping, and now she's looking after them all beautifully. At the moment we don't feel we can let them out though, as the buzzards usually start circling in minutes!

We had a beautiful hot sunny day yesterday (Sunday) which improved everyone's spirits after so much rain. We cooked brunch on a camp fire in the field, helped by the dogs. Ted burnt his nose getting too close to the bacon fat! He's now back in his favourite sentry spot at the top of the stone stairs outside Luggs Barn...

Thinking ahead...autumn/winter 2012!

Delighted to announce that Christmas 2012 is now booked! New Year has been booked for several months. If anyone can bear to think ahead to autumn half term, perhaps now's the time...special holidays get booked up very quickly!

Here's a picture of the apples in the orchard last autumn to get you in the mood...

New email!

We've been having trouble with our existing email address lately - it's a forwarding address to an old email account and is proving unreliable. We now have another email address which will hopefully work in tandem with the old one for now:

luggsbarn@gmail.com

You are welcome to use any of the email addresses on our literature but hopefully this one will mean that anyone currently having trouble contacting us will find it easier!